This prayer may be offered as part of the brief announcements during the Concluding Rites of Mass celebrations, particularly during Sundays when the parish honors family life.
DOWNLOAD HERE (in English and Spanish)
For questions regarding how to use this prayer, please contact Deacon Eric Paige by email or at (206) 382-4864.
Part of the mission of the Office of Marriage and Family Life is to assist parishes in their efforts to serve their parishioners. Below is a compilation of resources for parishes who are providing marriage preparation to couples.
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Please contact us directly if you are looking for information that is not listed on this webpage. Send an email to Deacon Eric Paige or call (206) 382-4864.
The pastor of the parish in which a wedding will be celebrated holds the primary responsiblity for ensuring proper formation of couples preparing for marriage.
For a comprehensive marriage preparation guide, we encourage you to refer to the For Your Marriage Resource Page, prepared by the USCCB. This resource page is geared towards couples but is also a very helpful compilation of resources for parishes.
These resources include:
Complete Marriage Preparation Programs
Premarital Inventories
Workbooks and Books for Engaged Couples
Supplemental Curriculum
Videos
Preparing for the Wedding Liturgy
Prayer Resources
Click the links below to download prenuptial forms. PDF reader needed.
Marriage Envelope
Canonical Prenuptial Investigation (Form 29.1 - Party)
Canonical Prenuptial Investigation (Form 29.2 - Witness)
Investigación Prenupcial Canónica (Form 29.1 - Pareja)
Investigación Prenupcial Canónica (Form 29.2 - Testigo)
Petition for Dispensation from Matrimonial Impediment
FOCCUS offers training that "Facilitate Open, Caring Communication, Understanding and Study."
For a parish to register with FOCCUS for marriage inventories, go here.
To become a facilitator for FOCCUS, go here.
For engaged couples looking to find a FOCCUS facilitator, click here to find the directory.
Consult the text of the Order of Celebrating Matrimony to gain a deeper understanding of the rite including how to prepare for its celebration.
The introduction section of the Order of Celebratng Matrimony provides a very helpful explanation of how the Church understands and reverences the Sacrament of Matrimony. Pastoral Assistants for Faith Formation, Marriage Coordinators and others who work in marriage preparation can benefit from reading the first 11 paragraphs in the introduction as they provide helpful context for the reasons why the Church asks for proper preparation for the Sacrament of Matrimony.
The Order of Celebrating Matrimony includes a blessing for a married couple within Mass on the Anniversary of Marriage in Appendix III. This simple ritual provides structure for these blessings.
Please note, the text in the link above is provided by the Liturgy Office of England and Wales and some of the paragraph numbers are different than in the USCCB approved 2016 Liturgical Press publication. The text of the ritual, however is the same.
The second chapter in Part II (Paragraphs 48-52) of Gaudium et Spes or the Pastoral Constitution on the Church from the Second Vatican Council (Vatican II) provides a very helpful description of how the Church understands marriage.
Promulgated in 2007 by Archbishop Brunett, the Archdiocese of Seattle's Matrimony Policy identified best practices for sacramental ministry related to Matrimony seeking to strengthen ties between parishes, faith communities and other Catholic institutions. With the establishment of the Office of Marriage and Family life in 2019, we are conducting a review of these policies in order to ensure that they continue to represent best practices and strengthen relationships thorughout the Church. The policy related to Matrimony is available using the link below:
Archdiocese of Seattle Matrimony Policy
If you have questions or ideas about how to improve the policy, please contact Deacon Eric Paige, Director of Marriage Family Life and Formation at (206) 382-4864 or eric.paige@seattlearch.org
Title 7 of the Code of Canon Law addresses Marriage. Click this link to read this section of Canon Law.